Ireland’s Roche Rides With ’87 Style : Tour de France: Former champion wins the rainy 16th stage. Indurain retains lead.

Ireland’s Stephen Roche held good on his word Tuesday, displaying the form that made him Tour de France champion in 1987 as he won this year’s 132-mile stage from St. Etienne to La Bourboule.

On Sunday, Roche had advised the three newspaper reporters from Ireland not to return home yet, even though their editors were requesting them to do so.

“I told them to stick around until La Bourboule, because I still planned on winning one for ol’ Ireland,” Roche said. “It was in the back of my mind to win this stage for them. Because of the terrain and weather, I thought it would be my last chance.”

Roche broke away from the pack in rain and fog about 15 miles from the finish, shortly before the difficult Croix-Morand hill. Roche was timed in 5 hours 52 minutes 14 seconds. Russian Viatcheslav Ekimov finished 46 seconds behind Roche. Race leader Miguel Indurain of Spain and his closest competitor, Claudio Chiappucci of Italy, finished 51 seconds back.

Chiappucci remains 1:42 behind Indurain. American Andy Hampsten finished 57 seconds behind Roche and remains in third place.

Because the next two days are flat stages, Hampsten, 8:07 behind, is expected to finish with the leaders and retain his overall place until Friday’s time trial at Blois. However, time trials are not his strength.

“Sure, it will have to be a ride of a lifetime (to keep his place),” Hampsten said, looking ahead to Friday. “But it is a challenge I’m looking forward to.”

Earlier in the Tour, Roche was a contender for the overall race leadership, but he slipped to ninth after Sunday’s Alpine stage.

“This is my most satisfying win since 1987,” Roche said of Tuesday’s victory. “This is one of my biggest victories ever. It shows I am back. I’m on the right schedule to come back and win it all next year.”

Roche, 31, has raced despite a herniated disk. He receives an hour of massage before and after each day’s race, during which he is painfully bent over a bike for five to seven hours.

“I won today with my heart and legs, he said. “(The three Irish reporters) will have something to write back home today.”

Standings

AFTER 16 OF 21 STAGES 1. Miguel Indurain (Spain), 79:58:0 2. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy), 1:42 behind 3. Andy Hampsten (United States), 8:07 4. Pascal Lino (France), 9:22 5. Gianni Bugno (Italy), 10:09 6. Pedro Delgado (Spain), 11:50 7. Eric Breukink (Netherlands) 15:54 8. Giancarlo Perini (Italy), 15:56 9. Stephen Roche (Ireland), 17:12 10. Franco Vona (Italy), 19:22